The Role of Women in the Christian Congregation (Part 4): Can Women Pray and Teach?
Paul appears to be telling us at 1 Corinthians 14:33, 34 that women are to be silent in congregation meetings and wait to get home to ask their husbands if they have any questions. This contradicts Paul’s earlier words at 1 Corinthians 11:5, 13 allowing women to both pray and prophecy in congregation meetings. How can we resolve this apparent contradiction in God’s word?
The Role of Women in the Christian Congregation (Part 3): Can a Women Be a Ministerial Servant?
Every religion has an ecclesiastical hierarchy of men who control doctrine and conduct. There is rarely a place for women. However, is the very idea of any ecclesiastical hierarchy unscriptural? This is the topic we will examine in part 3 of our series on the role of women in the Christian congregation.
The Role of Women in the Christian Congregation (Part 2) The Bible Record
Before we go making assumptions as to what role women can play in God’s Christian arrangement, we need to see how Jehovah God himself has used them in the past by examining the Bible account of various women of faith in both Israelite and Christian times.
Was Creation Accomplished in 144 Hours?
When I established this web site, its purpose was to gather research from diverse sources to try to determine what is true and what is false. Having been raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, I was taught that I was in the one true religion, the only religion that...The Role of Women in the Christian Congregation (Part 1): Introduction
The role within the body of Christ which women are to play has been misconstrued and misapplied by men for hundreds of years. It is time to put off all the preconceptions and bias that both sexes have been fed by the religious leaders of the various denominations of Christendom and pay heed to what God wants us to do. This video series will explore the role of women within the great purpose of God by allowing the Scriptures to speak for themselves while unmasking the many attempts men have made to twist their meaning as they fulfill God’s words at Genesis 3:16.
By Condeming “Despicable Apostates”, has the Governing Body Condemned Themselves?
Recently, the Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses released a video in which one of their members condemns apostates and other “enemies”. The video was entitled: “Anthony Morris III: Jehovah Will “Carry It Out” (Isa. 46:11)” and can be found by following this link:
https://www.jw.org/finder?docid=1011214&item=pub-jwb_202009_11_VIDEO&wtlocale=E&appLanguage=E&prefer=content
Was he right to condemn those who oppose the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses in this way, or do the scriptures he uses to condemn others actually end up backfiring on the organization’s leadership?
The Judicial System of Jehovah’s Witnesses (Part 2): Shunning…is this what Jesus wanted?
Hello, my name is Eric Wilson. One of the practices which has resulted in an enormous amount of criticism of Jehovah’s Witnesses is their practice of shunning anyone who leaves their religion or who is expelled by the elders for what is considered by them to be...Kicking against the Goads
[The following is the text from my chapter (my story) in the recently published book Fear to Freedom available on Amazon.] Part 1: Freed from Indoctrination “Mommy, am I going to die at Armageddon?” I was only five years old when I asked my parents that question. Why...The Judicial System of Jehovah’s Witnesses: From God or Satan?
In an effort to keep the congregation clean, Jehovah’s Witnesses disfellowship (shun) all unrepentant sinners. They base this policy on the words of Jesus as well as the apostles Paul and John. Many characterize this policy as cruel. Are Witnesses being unjustly maligned for simply obeying the commands of God, or are they using scripture as an excuse to practice wickedness? Only by strictly following the Bible’s direction can they truly claim that they have God’s approval, otherwise, their works could identify them as “workers of lawlessness”. (Matthew 7:23)
Which is it? This video and the next will attempt to answer those questions definitively.
Media, Money, Meetings, and Me
Hello everyone and thanks for joining me. Today I wanted to talk on four topics: media, money, meetings and me. Beginning with media, I’m specifically referring to the publication of a new book called Fear to Freedom which was put together by a friend of mine, Jack...Examining the Trinity: Part 1, What does history teach us?
Eric: Hello, my name is Eric Wilson. The video you are about to see was recorded several weeks ago, but due to illness, I was not able to complete it until now. It will be the first of several videos analyzing the doctrine of the Trinity. I’m doing the video with Dr....Re-establishing the Christian Congregation: What Constitutes Honorable Marriage?
When we speak of re-establishing the Christian Congregation, we are not speaking of setting up a new religion. Quite the contrary. We are speaking about returning to the form of worship that existed in the first century—a form largely unknown in this day and age. ...What is your Thorn in the Flesh?
I was just reading 2 Corinthians where Paul talks about being afflicted with a thorn in the flesh. Do you remember that part? As a Jehovah’s Witness, I was taught that he was likely referring to his bad eyesight. I never liked that interpretation. It just seemed...Conspiracy Theories and the Great Trickster
Hello everyone. I’ve been getting emails and comments asking what has happened to the videos. Well, the answer is quite simple. I’ve been sick, so production has fallen off. I’m better now. Don’t worry. It wasn’t COVID-19, just a case of Shingles. Apparently, I had...Is the Shunning Policy practiced by Jehovah’s Witnesses their version of the Hellfire Doctrine?
How the “Shunning” practiced by Jehovah’s Witnesses compares to the Hellfire doctrine. Years ago, when I was a full-fledged Jehovah’s Witness, serving as an elder, I met a fellow witness who had been a Muslim in Iran before converting. This was the first time I had...The Branch Response to the Letter from Felix’s Wife
This is my review of the letter from the Argentina Branch in response to the registered letters sent them by Felix and his wife.
My Awakening after 30 Years of Deception, Part 3: Achieving Freedom for Myself and My Wife
Introduction: Felix’s wife discovers for herself that the elders are not the “loving shepherds” that they and the organization proclaim them to be. She finds herself involved in a sexual abuse case in which the offender is appointed a ministerial servant despite the accusation, and it is discovered that he had abused more young girls.
The congregation receives the “preventive order” via text message to stay away from Felix and his wife just before the “The Love Never Fails” regional convention. All these situations lead to a fight that the branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses ignores, presuming its power, but which serves for both Felix and his wife to achieve freedom of conscience.
My Awakening after 30 years of deception, Part 2: Awakening
[Translated from Spanish by Vivi] By Felix of South America. (Names are changed to avoid retaliation.) Introduction: In Part I of the series, Felix from South America told us about how his parents learned about the Jehovah’s Witness movement and how his family...Examining Matthew 24, Part 13: The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats
Witness leadership use the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats to claim that the salvation of the “Other Sheep” depends on their obedience to the instructions of the Governing Body. They allege that this parable “proves” that there is a two-class system of salvation with 144,000 going to heaven, while the rest live as sinners on earth for the 1,000 years. Is that the true meaning of this parable or do Witnesses have it all wrong? Join us to examin the evidence and decide for yourself.
Examining Matthew 24, Part 12: The Faithful and Discreet Slave
Jehovah’s Witnesses contend that the men (currently 8) making up their governing body constitute a fulfillment of what they consider to be the prophecy of the faithful and discreet slave referred to at Matthew 24:45-47. Is this accurate or merely a self-serving interpretation? If the latter, then what or who is the faithful and discreet slave, and what of the other three slaves that Jesus refers to in Luke’s parallel account?
This video will attempt to answer all these questions using Scriptural context and reasoning.
Examining Matthew 24, Part 11: The Parables from the Mount of Olives
There are four parables that our Lord left us in his final discourse on the Mount of Olives. How do these relate to us today? How has the organization misapplied these parables and what harm has that done? We will begin our discussion with an explanation of the true nature of parables.
Examining Matthew 24, Part 10: The Sign of Christ’s Presence
Welcome back. This is part 10 of our exegetical analysis of Matthew 24. Up to this point, we have spent a lot of time cutting away all the false teachings and false prophetic interpretations that have done so much damage to the faith of millions of sincere and...Examining Matthew 24, Part 9: Exposing the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Generation Doctrine as False
For over 100 years, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been predicting that Armageddon is just around the corner, based largely on their interpretation of Matthew 24:34 which speaks of a “generation” that will see both the end and the beginning of the last days. The question is, are they getting it wrong about which last days Jesus was referring to? Is there a way to determine the answer from Scripture in a way that leaves no room for doubt. Indeed, there is as this video will demonstrate.
Examining Matthew 24, Part 8: Pulling the Linchpin from the 1914 Doctrine
As hard as it may be to believe, the entire foundation of the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses is based on the interpretation of a single Bible verse. If the understanding they have of that verse can be shown to be wrong, their entire religious identity goes away. This video will examine that Bible verse and put the foundational doctrine of 1914 under a scriptural microscope.
Examining Matthew 24, Part 7: The Great Tribulation
Matthew 24:21 speaks of “great tribulation” to come upon Jerusalem which occurred during 66 to 70 C.E. Revelation 7:14 also speaks of “great tribulation”. Are these two events connected in some way? Or is the Bible speaking about two entirely different tribulations, totally unrelated to one another? This presentation will attempt to demonstrate what each scripture is referring to and how that understanding affects all Christians today.
For information about the new policy of JW.org to not accept antitypes not declared in Scripture, see this article: https://beroeans.net/2014/11/23/going-beyond-what-is-written/
To support this channel, please donate with PayPal to beroean.pickets@gmail.com or send a cheque to Good News Association, Inc, 2401 West Bay Drive, Suite 116, Largo, FL 33770
Stephen Lett and the Sign of the Coronavirus
Okay, this definitely falls into the category of “Here we go again”. What am I talking about? Rather than tell you, let me show you. This excerpt is from a recent video from JW.org. And you can see from it, probably, what do I mean by “here we go again”. What I mean...Do Jehovah’s Witnesses have “a Disapproved Mental State”?
“Just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a disapproved mental state, to do the things not fitting.” (Romans 1:28 NWT) It may seem like a bold statement even to suggest that the leadership of Jehovah’s Witnesses has been given over...Examining Matthew 24, Part 6: Is Preterism Applicable to Last Days Prophecies?
A number of exJWs seem to be persuaded by the idea of Preterism, that all the prophecies in Revelation and Daniel, as well as those in Matthew 24 and 25 were fulfilled in the first century. Can we definitely prove otherwise? Are there any adverse effects resulting from a Preterist belief?
Is the Governing Body Knowingly Deceiving Us over 607 BCE? (Part 2)
In our first article, we examined the Adad-Guppi Stele, an historical document which quickly demolishes Watchtower’s theory of possible gaps in the established line of Neo-Babylonian Kings. For the next piece of primary evidence, we will look at the planet...Have Jehovah’s Witnesses Reached the Tipping Point?
While the 2019 Service Report seems to indicate that there is on-going growth in the Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses, there is shocking news out of Canada to indicate that the figures have been cooked and in fact the organization is shrinking far faster than anyone had imagined.
Jehovah’s Witnesses and Child Sexual Abuse: Why Is the Two-Witness Rule a Red Herring?
Hello, I’m Meleti Vivlon. Those who protest the horrendous mishandling of child sexual abuse among the leadership of Jehovah’s Witnesses frequently harp on the two-witness rule. They want it gone. So why am I calling the two-witness rule, a red herring? Am I...Cam’s Story
[This is a very tragic and touching experience which Cam has given me permission to share. It is from the text of an e-mail he sent me. – Meleti Vivlon] I left Jehovah’s Witnesses just over a year ago, after I saw tragedy, and I just want to thank you for...Bible Musings: Are we missing the point?
In response to the last video—Part 5—in the Matthew 24 series, one of the regular viewers sent me an email asking about how two seemingly related passages can be understood. Some would call these problematic passages. Bible scholars referred to them by the Latin...Examining Matthew 24, Part 5: The Answer!
This is now the fifth video in our series on Matthew 24. Do you recognize this musical refrain? You can’t always get what you want But if you try sometimes, well, you might find You get what you need… Rolling Stones, right? It’s very true. The disciples wanted...Is the Governing Body Knowingly Deceiving Us over 607 B.C.E.? (Part 1)
When the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses gets something wrong and has to make a correction which is usually introduced to the community as “new light” or “refinements in our understanding”, the excuse frequently echoed to justify...Who are the 24 Elders of Revelation 4:4?
This article was submitted by Stephanos The identity of the 24 elders in the book of Revelation has been a subject of discussion for a long time. Several theories have been raised. Since nowhere in the Bible is a clear definition of this group of persons given, it’s...Does a Woman Praying in the Congregation Violate Headship?
[This is a continuation of the topic on the Role of Women in the Congregation.] This article began as a comment in response to Eleasar’s thought-provoking, well-researched comment on the meaning of kephalē in 1 Corinthians 11:3. “But I want you to understand...Understanding the Role of Women in God’s Family
Author’s Note: In writing this article, I am seeking input from our community. It is my hope that others will share their thoughts and research on this important topic, and that in particular, the women on this site will feel free to share their viewpoint with...Examining Matthew 24, Part 4: “The End”
Hi, my name’s Eric Wilson. There is another Eric Wilson on the Internet doing Bible-based videos but he is not connected to me in any way. So, if you do a search on my name but come up with the other guy, try instead my alias, Meleti Vivlon. I used that alias for...Ina shares additional thoughts on the Organization
Ina discusses coping with her new life after Jehovah’s Witnesses.Examining Matthew 24; Part 3: Preaching in All the Inhabited Earth
Was Matthew 24:14 given to us as a means to measure how close we are to the return of Jesus? Does it speak of a worldwide preaching work to warn all humanity of their looming doom and eternal destruction? Witnesses believe they alone have this commission and that their preaching work is life saving? Is that the case, or are they actually working against God’s purpose. This video will endeavour to answer those questions.
An Email from Raymond Franz
A local brother I just met at one of our Christian gatherings told me that he had exchanged emails with Raymond Franz before he died in 2010. I asked him if he would be so kind to share them with me and allow me to share them with all of you. This is the first one...Examining Matthew 24, Part 2: The Warning
In our last video we examined the question asked of Jesus by four of his apostles as recorded at Matthew 24:3, Mark 13:2, and Luke 21:7. We learned that they wanted to know when the things he had prophesied – specifically the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple –...Examining Matthew 24, Part 1: The Question
As promised in my previous video, we will now discuss what is at times called “Jesus’ prophesy of the last days” which is recorded in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. Because this prophecy is so central to the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses, as it is with all...Is the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses a False Prophet?
Hello everyone. Good of you to join us. I’m Eric Wilson, also known as Meleti Vivlon; the alias I used for years when I was just trying to study the Bible free from indoctrination and wasn’t yet ready to endure the persecution that inevitably comes when a Witness...Doubting the Bible: Does the Age of the Pyramids Disprove the Flood?
According to archeological evidence and Bible chronology, some of the pyramids existed before the Flood of Noah, yet they show no evidence of water damages. Does this prove there could not have been a biblical flood?
Update on the Judicial Hearing and Where We Are Going from Here
This will be a short video. I wanted to get it out quickly because I am moving to a new apartment, and that’s going to slow me down for a few weeks with regard to the output of more videos. A good friend and fellow Christian has generously opened his home to me and...Learning How to Fish: The Benefits of Exegetical Bible Study
Hello. My name is Eric Wilson. And today I’m going to teach you how to fish. Now you may think that’s odd because you probably started this video thinking it’s on the Bible. Well, it is. There is an expression: give a man a fish and you feed him for...The Merit of Works and Jehovah’s Witnesses
[This article has been republished with the author’s permission from his own web site.] Jehovah’s Witness doctrine about the application of Jesus’ teaching of the Sheep and the Goats in chapter 25 of Matthew has some similarity with the Roman Catholicism’s...The Nature of God’s Son: Who Cast Down Satan and When?
Hello, Eric Wilson here. I’ve been surprised by the reaction my last video provoked from the Jehovah’s Witnesses community defending the JW doctrine that Jesus is Michael the Archangel. Initially, I didn’t think this doctrine was that critical to the theology of...The Nature of God’s Son: Is Jesus the Archangel Michael?
In a recent video I produced, one of the commenters took exception to my statement that Jesus isn’t Michael the Archangel. The belief that Michael is the pre-human Jesus is held by Jehovah’s Witnesses and Seventh Day Adventists, among others. Have witnesses uncovered...A Jehovah’s Witnesses Elder Is Tried for Apostasy
I’ve just posted the video of my April 1st judicial hearing at the Aldershot congregation Kingdom hall in Burlington, Ontario, Canada as well as the followup appeal committee hearing. Both are very revealing about the true nature of the judicial process...My Judicial Committee Hearing – Part 1
While I was in St. Petersburg, Florida on vacation in February, I got a call from one of the elders of my former congregation “inviting” me to a judicial hearing the following week on the charge of apostasy. I told him that I wouldn’t be back in...More Distancing from Christ
An eagle-eyed reader shared this little gem with us: In Psalm 23 in the NWT, we see that verse 5 speaks about being anointed with oil. David is one of the other sheep according to JW theology, so he can’t be anointed. Yet the old songbook song based on Psalm...The Spanish Field and Donations
The Spanish Field Jesus said: “Look! I say to you: Lift up your eyes and view the fields, that they are white for harvesting.” (John 4:35) Some time back we started a Spanish “Beroean Pickets” web site, but I was disappointed that we got very...Does God Exist?
After leaving the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses, many lose their faith in the existence of God. It seems that these ones had faith not in Jehovah but in the organization, and with that gone, so was their faith. These often turn to evolution which is built on the premise that all things evolved by random chance. Is there proof of this, or can it be disproved scientifically? Likewise, can the existence of God be proven by science, or is it just a matter of blind faith? This video will attempt to answer these questions.
Awakening: “Religion Is a Snare and a Racket”
“For God “subjected all things under his feet.” But when he says that ‘all things have been subjected,’ it is evident that this does not include the One who subjected all things to him.” (1Co 15:27)
Awakening: Part 5, What’s the Real Problem with JW.org
There is a key problem with Jehovah’s Witnesses that transcends all the other sins the organization is guilty of. Identifying this issue will help us to understand what is really the problem with JW.org and whether there’s any hope of fixing it.
Jim’s Story
A Elder of over 40 years in Britain relates his story of being found by Christ.
Awakening, Part 4: Where Do I Go Now?
When we awake to the reality of JW.org doctrine and conduct, we are faced with serious problem, because we have been taught that salvation depends on our affiliation with the Organization. Without it, we ask: “Where else can I go?”
Awakening, Part 3: Regrets
While we may look back on much of our time spent serving the Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses with regret of misspent years, there is ample reason to look at those years in a positive light.
Awakening, Part 2: What’s It All About?
How can we deal with the emotional trauma we experience when awakening from the indoctrination of JW.org? What’s it all about? Can we distill everything down to a simple, revealing truth?
Would You Like to Meet?
This is a call out to our brothers and sisters on the other side of the globe, in Australia, New Zealand and Eurasia. Would you like to meet with other like-minded Christians—ex or exiting JWs—who still thirst for fellowship and spiritual encouragement? If so, we...Not Thinking It Through—Again!
In my last post, I spoke about how ill-conceived some of (most of?) the doctrines of JW.org truly are. By happenstance, I stumbled on another one dealing with the Organization’s interpretation of Matthew 11:11 which states: “Truly I say to you, among those born...Addendum to “Awakening, Part 1: Introduction”
In my last video, I mentioned a letter I sent into headquarters regarding a 1972 Watchtower article on Matthew 24. It turns out I got the date wrong. I was able to recover the letters from my files when I came home from Hilton Head, SC. The actual article in...New JW Recovery Facebook Group
I’m pleased to be able to present everyone with some news. Two of our number have started a Facebook group to help those going through the awakening process. Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/310424909762137/?ref=bookmarks In case the link...Beroean KeepTesting
[This is a contributed experience by an awakened Christian going under the alias “BEROEAN KeepTesting”] I believe we all (ex-Witnesses) share similar emotions, feelings, tears, confusion, and a broad spectrum of other feelings and emotions during our...Awakening, Part 1: Introduction
In this new series, we will answer the question asked by all those who awaken from the false teachings of JW.org: “Where do I go from here?”
Identifying True Worship, Part 12: Love Among Yourselves
I’ve been looking forward to doing this final video in our series, Identifying True Worship. That’s because this is the only one that really matters. Let me explain what I mean. Through the previous videos, it has been instructive to show how using the very criteria...Exploiting NWT Bias with “Gifts ‘in’ Men”
In the August, 2018 Broadcast on JW.org, Governing Body member, Stephen Lett, utilizes a questionable rendering of Ephesians 4:8 to promote the idea that we should obey the elders submissively and without question. Is this a Scriptural view?
Peace and Security—A Final Sign?
Is the Cry of Peace and Security a final sign before the end, or have Witnesses gotten this wrong? There is real danger in not understanding the true meaning of Paul’s words.
Identifying True Worship, Part 11: The Unrighteous Riches
Hello everyone. My name’s Eric Wilson. Welcome to Beroean Pickets. In this series of videos, we have been examining ways to identify true worship using the criteria laid down by the Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Since these criteria are used by Witnesses to...A Thought on the JW.org/UN Petition Letter
JackSprat made a comment under the recent post on Christian neutrality and the Organization’s involvement in the United Nations that I’m grateful for, because I’m sure he raises a view that many share. I would like to address that here. I agree that...Identifying True Worship, Part 10: Christian Neutrality
Joining a non-neutral entity, like a political party, results in automatic disassociation from the congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Have Jehovah’s Witnesses maintained strict neutrality? The answer will shock many faithful Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Identifying True Worship, Part 9: Our Christian Hope
Having shown in our last episode that the Other Sheep doctrine of Jehovah’s Witnesses is unscriptural, it seems approrpiate to pause in our examination of the teachings of JW.org to address the real Bible hope of salvation–the real Good News–as it pertains to Christians.
Comment Voting Disabled
Hi Everyone, After discussing the pros and cons with a number of you, I’ve removed the comment voting feature. The reasons are various. For me, the key reason Tthat came back to me in responses was that it amounted to a popularity contest. There was also the...Maria’s Experience
My experience of being an Active Jehovah’s Witness and leaving the Cult. By Maria (An alias as a protect against persecution.) I started studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses over 20 years ago after my first marriage was breaking up. My daughter was only a few months old,...A Critical Examination of the Current JW.org Position on Child Sexual Abuse
An Analysis of the 2018 Position Paper on Handing Child Sexual Abuse within the community of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Alithia’s Experience
Hello all. After reading Ava’s experience and being encouraged, I thought I would do the same, in the hope that someone reading my experience may at least see some commonality. I am sure there are many out there who have asked themselves the question. “How could I...Identifying True Worship, Part 8: Who Are the Other Sheep?
This video, podcast and article explore the unique JW teaching of the Other Sheep. This doctrine, more than any other, affects the salvation hope of millions. But is it true, or a fabrication of one man, who 80 years ago, decided to create a two-class, two-hope system of Christianity? This is the question that affects all of us and which we will answer now.
“The Spirit Bears Witness…”
One of our forum members relates that in their memorial talk the speaker broke out that old chestnut, “If you are asking yourself if you should partake or not, it means you have not been chosen and so do not partake.” This member came up with some...“God Is Not Partial”
In the April Broadcast on tv.jw.org, there is a video given by Governing Body member Mark Sanderson at about the 34-minute mark, wherein he relates some encouraging experiences of brothers under persecution in Russia back in the 1950s, showing how Jehovah provided the...“The number of disciples kept multiplying”
I got an email today with a link to a website out of Italy. It seems our Italian brothers are also waking up. This is happening everywhere, and it is so encouraging to see so many being called out to the Christ. It reminds me of this verse from Acts of the Apostles:...Identifying True Worship, Part 7: 1914 – Scriptural Evidence
You have to accept over 20 assumptions to believe in 1914 as the start of Christ’s invisible presence. One failed assumption and the doctrine comes crashing down.